The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-06
EVIDENCES OF PROSPERITY
What Business Men Say About the
Growth ofthe City's Mercantile Trade.
1t Is Nearly Twenty-Five Per Cent. Better
Than a Year Ago-Rapid Development
Of indianapolis as Trade Center.


has attracted much attention to the present
prosperous condition of Indianapolis, is thing
that has no direct or immediate effect upon the
mercantile trade, which, its steady growth
and remarkably heaithful condition. demon
strates that the business prosperity of Indian
apois is not dependent upon any booming
influences 1t has been rapidly developing for
two years or more, and many of the wholesale
merchants on South Meridian street now have
from 80 to 80 per cent more trade, earned ny
their enterprise and advantageous location, than
they had three years ago. There is much of
significance TO people who are talking about the
recent boom in the following brief intsrviews
with merchants by Journal reporters:
Alfred BurdsaI. wholesale dealer in paints,
oils and glass: Thus far this year. contrasted
with the corresponding period last year. my
business is fully 30 per cent better-a positive
and gratifying increase Some of this increase
is caused by reaching out into new territory.
now have a man down South-kentucky, Ten
nessee. Alabama and Georgia-and, IN a few
days, Mississippi will be looked after. Last year
put man on in Ohio and Michigan. and this
year the benefit Of that trade is being felt. Our
general home trade, that is, of our State and
directly tributary Indianapolis. is greatly in
creased. There have been advances in window
glass since the LIST of January. and the demand
is constantly growing. The glass made by
natural gas is Of better quality than was pro-
duced with other fuel, and is superseding inn
ported French glass to a great extent"
John N Carey, with ID. Stewart. wholesale
drugs Our business is % per cent better than
during the first four months last year. and last
years business, whole, % per cent.
better than in any previous year. Our territory
Is Indiana, Illinois and western Ohio. and we
cover 1t thoroughly with seven men on tho road.
As to competition, we sell within twenty miles
Of both St Louis and Chicago, and would have
little hesitation to enter both of those cities and
compete with the wholesalers there for the loca!
trade
Eli Lilly & Co., manufacturing chemists: ''Our
business will run nearly % per cent. better than
tending our territory. We cover the West en-
tirely. On the southeast take in the Caro-
linas and south Louisiana and Texas. Many of
specialties 60 abroad, and there is a great
increase in the demand for them. We send
these goods to London. whence they go out to
the East Indies and over the world. We now
have fourteen travelling men upon the road"
Hildebrand q Fugate, hardware: "There is a
greater demand for hardware, especially that
required by builders, than ever before, indicating
that there is a large amount of building going
on. From the class of hardware that is selling
most, we infer that the erection of small houses,
cottage dwellings, must be very great Ii is a
slgn OF general prosperity when this Is the case.
We can safely say our business has increased 10
per cent over the corresponding period last
year. Our field is Indiana and Illinois We are
extending our territory somewhat to the north,
and we have good trade in western Ohio"
5. Beck q Sons guns and powder .'Our
trade is from 20 to % per cent. better from the
beginning of the present year than last year for
the same time. and the prospect for a continu-
ance of the present favorable state of affairs is
good. Our trade is over Indiana and through
central Illinois. The increase has not been on
any one line, but on all lines"
Louis Holweg. wholesale queensware: "Cur
business is 20 per cent. better. We travel over
Indiana. Illinois, Ohio and portions of Michigan
and Kentucky, having twelve men on the road
Goods have not advanced.
A. Kiefer. wholesale drugs: "There has been
handsome increase in the volume of business
in the drug line | do not know that can give
the per cent It is sufficiently obvious be
gratifying. Indianapolis has the country tribu-
tary 10 her that cannot be excelled anywhere.
hardly think it be equaled, and our rail
road facilities are the best in the country. Don't
report all this when l begin TO talk about In
dianapolis likely to be somewhat enthusi-
astic; but perhaps no more SO than the subject
deserves"
Schnull 81 Kragg, Wholesale grocers 1.-THE in
crease in the grocery trade has been gradual for
two years. Prices on some goods have advanced
slightly. The roasted coffee trade has increased
fully half million pounds during the last year.
and the sales will amount this year to not less
than 81 900. 600.
Syfers Mcbride g. Co., wholesale grocers:
There has been great Improvement in
business as in everything along the street, but
to the per cent. we have now way of giving
that with any exactness- We travel n
larger territory than last year. Collections
good and there is little begging for time. Bust
ness is in a healthy condition and the outlook is
first rate"
volume of business is larger; the character both
with reference to collections and general condl-
ton OF trade, is much better than at any time
for the past few years"
VIM. Daggett wholesale confectioner: Soon
trasted with the first four months OF last year
our business has been % per cent. better. We
reach out over larger territory than be-
fore. We sell goods to the East in several large
cities of Ohio and New York-goods of our own
special manufacture-and travel over Indiana,
Illinois and portions of Kentucky. / think
W he m nloln Inns nr1tln
we have had for years. 1t is now less trouble to
sell goods, and. what is more important, less
trouble to make collections"
Tanner e. Sullivan, tin plate and timers sup
plies: .'The jobbing trade is improving and
our business. like that of our neigh oors. is in
creasing. We travel over Indiana, Illinois and
Pearson & Weitzel, wholesale queensware
THE increase with us in the past few months is
fully % per cent. over like period in 1886. We
are covering moro territory than last year.
There is no question but this will be great year
for business
Gordon. Kurtz & Co. manufacturers and
jobbers in saddlery hardware: Better. Think
it'll average % per cent. better Increasing our
territory slightly. Advance is made, however,
by larger demand in the old territory"
A. b. Conduit q Son. Wholesale grocers:
siderable increase over last year and former
years. We have never had so bright an outlook
for business in the territory around Indianapolis
as we now have The prospect for wheat is
in good condition. and failures have been re-
markably few this spring. The interstate
commerce law does us some good On
some roads leading out of here we find we can
go further than before the new law went into
effect, while it does not shorten us up on any.
indianapolis has splendid railroad facilities. and
the interstate law, so far the grocery trade is
concerned, has not injured u.s. The raise on
mileage tickets has increased travelling
penses, but that does not come from any provis-
ION of the law"
Fahnlev 81 McCrea Wholesale nillinerv-
Business IS great deal better this spring than
last 1t will amount to % per cent better for the
year IL IL keeps up. or better than that.
We are selling some goods far west as Kan
sas now. Our trade is in Indiana, Ohio Illinois
Kentucky, Tennessee and Iowa.
Griffith Bros, wholesale millinery: "Trade
has greatly increased. We hardly dare tell how
good 1t IS. fou remember the story of the Irish
man who got the gentleman he was working
for to write letter back to the old country tell
ing how he was getting along in 'Ameriky'
Tell them. said Pat, that have mate once a
day. But said the writer, you know you have
meat three times day 'Ochp said Pat. that's
hob I